Calibrachoa plant named ‘Duealred’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Calibrachoa  plant named ‘Duealred’, characterized by its compact, upright and outwardly spreading to trailing and decumbent plant habit; numerous large dark red-colored flowers; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Calibrachoa sp.

Cultivar denomination: ‘Duealred’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Calibrachoa plant, botanically known as Calibrachoa sp. and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Duealred’.

The new Calibrachoa plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Rheinberg, Germany. The objective of the breeding program is to create new Calibrachoa cultivars with large attractive flowers.

The new Calibrachoa originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in August, 2004 in Rheinberg, Germany of a proprietary selection of Calibrachoa sp. identified as code number A02-0098-002, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Calibrachoa sp. identified as code number F-12-18, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Calibrachoa was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Rheinberg, Germany in May, 2007.

Asexual reproduction of the new Calibrachoa plant by vegetative terminal cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Rheinberg, Germany since May, 2007, has shown that the unique features of this new Calibrachoa plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Calibrachoa have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment and cultural practices such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Duealred’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Duealred’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Calibrachoa:

-   -   1. Compact, upright and outwardly spreading to trailing and         decumbent plant habit.     -   2. Numerous large dark red-colored flowers.     -   3. Good garden performance.

The new Calibrachoa can be compared to plants of the female parent selection. Plants of the new Calibrachoa differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in flower color as plants of the new Calibrachoa have more intense red-colored flowers than plants of the female parent selection.

The new Calibrachoa can be compared to plants of the male parent selection. Plants of the new Calibrachoa differ primarily from plants of the male parent selection in growth habit as plants of the new Calibrachoa are more compact than plants of the male parent selection.

Plants of the new Calibrachoa can be compared to plants of Calibrachoa ‘Cal Britreeda’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 16,828. Plants of the new Calibrachoa differ from plants of ‘Cal Britreeda’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Calibrachoa are more compact than plants of         ‘Cal Britreeda’.     -   2. Plants of the new Calibrachoa have shorter internodes than         plants of ‘Cal Britreeda’.     -   3. Plants of the new Calibrachoa have smaller leaves than plants         of ‘Cal Britreeda’.     -   4. Plants of the new Calibrachoa have smaller flowers than         plants of ‘Cal Britreeda’.     -   5. Plants of the new Calibrachoa have smaller sepals than plants         of ‘Cal Britreeda’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearance of the new Calibrachoa, showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Calibrachoa. The photograph is a top perspective view of a typical flowering lateral branch of ‘Duealred’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photograph and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown in Rheinberg, Germany, under commercial practice during the spring in a glass-covered greenhouse with day and night temperatures averaging 18° C. and light levels averaging 4,500 lux. Rooted young plants were pinched one time about three weeks after planting had been growing for 16 weeks when the photograph and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Calibrachoa sp. ‘Duealred’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of             Calibrachoa sp. identified as code number A02-0098-002, not             patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of             Calibrachoa sp. identified as code number F-12-18, not             patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By vegetative cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About seven days at 20° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About ten days at 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About three             weeks at temperatures of 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About four             weeks at temperatures of 20° C.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; white in color.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Compact, upright and outwardly             spreading to trailing and decumbent plant habit. Freely             branching habit with about 10 to 15 lateral branches;             pinching enhances branching; vigorous growth habit.         -   Plant height.—About 11 cm.         -   Plant diameter.—About 22 cm. -   Lateral branch description:     -   -   Length.—About 11 cm.         -   Diameter.—About 1.5 mm.         -   Internode length.—About 9.7 mm.         -   Strength.—Strong.         -   Aspect.—Initially upright to outwardly spreading to trailing             and decumbent.         -   Texture.—Pubescent.         -   Color.—Close to 144B. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Before flowering, alternate, simple; after             flowering, opposite, simple.         -   Length.—About 2.4 cm.         -   Width.—About 7.4 mm.         -   Shape.—Oblanceolate.         -   Apex.—Rounded.         -   Base.—Cuneate.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Pubescent.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate; arcuate.         -   Color.—Developing and fully expanded leaves, upper surface:             Close to 137C; venation, close to 144C. Developing and fully             expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to 138B to 138C;             venation, close to 144C.         -   Petiole.—Length: About 2 mm. Diameter: About 1 mm. Texture,             upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent. Color, upper and lower             surfaces: Close to 144B. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower arrangement and habit.—Single salverform flowers             arising from leaf axils. Freely flowering habit with usually             about 40 open flowers and flower buds per plant. Flowers             face upright or outwardly.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Natural flowering season.—Plants of the new Calibrachoa             initiate and develop flowers about four to six weeks after             planting. Plants flower continuously from the spring until             the autumn in Germany.         -   Flower longevity.—Individual flowers last about seven to ten             days on the plant; flowers not persistent.         -   Flower diameter.—About 2.8 cm.         -   Flower length (height).—About 2 cm.         -   Flower throat diameter.—About 8 mm.         -   Flower tube length.—About 1.7 cm.         -   Flower tube diameter, base.—About 2 mm.         -   Flower bud.—Shape: Elongated oblong. Length: About 2.2 cm.             Diameter: About 4 mm. Color: Close to 145C tinted with close             to 71A.         -   Corolla.—Arrangement: Five petals fused at the base and             opening into a flared trumpet. Petal length from throat:             About 1.3 cm. Petal lobe width: About 1.4 cm. Petal shape:             Roughly spatulate. Petal apex: Shallowly cordate. Petal             margin: Entire. Petal texture, upper and lower surfaces:             Smooth, glabrous. Throat texture: Smooth, glabrous. Tube             texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Petal, when opening, upper             surface: Close to 46A. Petal, when opening, lower surface:             Close to 46C. Petal, fully opened, upper surface: Close to             46B; venation, close to 59A to 59B; color becoming closer to             46B to 46C with development. Petal, fully opened, lower             surface: Close to 46C; venation, close to 59A. Throat: Close             to 7A; venation, close to 59A. Tube: Close to 151C;             venation, close to 59A.         -   Calyx.—Arrangement: One star-shaped calyx tube with five             sepals fused at the base. Sepal length: About 1.1 cm. Sepal             width: About 2.2 mm. Sepal shape: Lanceolate. Sepal apex:             Acute. Sepal margin: Entire. Sepal texture, upper and lower             surfaces: Pubescent. Color, upper surface: Close to 137C.             Color, lower surface: Close to 138A.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 1.5 cm. Diameter: About 1 mm.             Angle: About 45° from stem axis. Strength: Moderately             strong. Texture: Pubescent. Color: Close to 144B.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity/arrangement: Five per             flower. Filament length: About 8 mm. Filament color: Close             to 145C. Anther shape: Ellipsoidal. Anther length: About             1.5 mm. Anther color: Close to 7B. Pollen amount: Scarce.             Pollen color: Close to 13C. Pistils: Quantity: One per             flower. Pistil length: About 1.3 cm. Style length: About             1 cm. Style color: Close to 144D. Stigma shape: Ellipsoidal.             Stigma color: Close to 144B. Ovary color: Close to 144D.             Seed/fruit: Seed and fruit development have not been             observed on plants of the new Calibrachoa. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Calibrachoa have been observed     to have good garden performance and tolerate wind, rain and     temperatures ranging from about 2° C. to about 38° C. -   Pathogen/pest resistance: Plants of the new Calibrachoa have not     been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to     Calibrachoa. 

1. A new and distinct Calibrachoa plant named ‘Duealred’ as illustrated and described. 